A private collection of rare items belonging to Dambusters hero Guy Gibson has smashed estimates at auction. The haul, which sold for three times its estimate, included the military wings from the RAF uniform of the legendary wing commander, who is considered one of Britain’s greatest war heroes.
Aged 24, Gibson he led 133 men in Lancaster bombers in the famous ‘bouncing bomb’ attack on three dams in Germany’s Ruhr Valley in 1943. The wartime collection was amassed by local newspaper photographer Derrick Warren, of Coventry, who died in 2022, aged 81, reports SWNS.
Among the standout lots on auction day at Market Harborough’s Gildings Auctioneers on Tuesday (January 7) was the pair of RAF cloth wings, displayed in an engraved silver-plated frame. They made £4,200 from their original £1,000 to £1,500 estimate.
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53 of the Dambusters were killed
(Image: Gildings Auctioneers)
The wings were removed from Gibson’s uniform and given to his cousin Janet de Gaynsford, the wings were presented to Derrick by her in 1994. They came with a handwritten letter confirming they were given to her by Gibson in March 1941 at her parents’ house in Wales.
Meanwhile, a Lancaster Bomber steering yoke soared beyond its pre-sale estimate of £200 to £300 to make £3,400 on the day. Also in the sale was a facsimile copy of Gibson’s logbook featuring autographs including from Gibson’s wife Eve and the head of World War II Bomber Command, Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris. It had been expected to sell for £300 to £500 and went on to fetch £2,000.
A World War Two flying cap, respirator and part harness estimated at £200 to £300 sold for £800. An RAF two-piece uniform belonging to Air Chief Marshall the Hon Sir Ralph Cochrane, sold for £2,600 against a guide price of £100 to £200.
The total of 54 lots has been expected to sell for between £8,000 and 10,000, but a fierce bidding war saw the historic collection smash estimate to fetch a total of £24,000. Gildings director Mark Gilding said: “The value attached to this very special World War II memorabilia is a testament not just to its rarity, but to the enduring fascination and respect given to Guy Gibson and the other remarkable Dambusters heroes.
The collection celebrated Dambusters hero Guy Gibson
(Image: Gildings Auctioneers)
“There is something very special about this kind of single-owner collection, built around a lifelong passion for a specific period of history, so it’s great to know Derrick Warren’s memorabilia will now start a fresh chapter with new owners who will continue to treasure it for posterity. A fierce bidding war was always inevitable for this rare opportunity to acquire items from Derrick Warren’s unique collection commemorating Guy Gibson, so we’re thrilled that this homage to one of World War II’s most daring and ingenious heroes has exceeded all expectations.”
Auctioneers said all of the lots found homes with new UK-based owners, many of whom were in the room to compete with internet bidders from all over the world.
The Dambusters raid took place on the night of May 16th, 1943, when Gibson led the attack on three dams in Germany’s industrial Ruhr Valley. The daring stories of the night were immortalised in ‘The Dam Busters’ film in 1955 and Gibson became known as one of greatest heroes of WW2.
Despite being officially released from flying duties, Gibson was killed in action aged 26 in September 1944 when his de Havilland Mosquito crashed returning from a raid on Germany. A full RAF tour of duty was 30 missions, but at the time of his death Gibson had completed at least 174 raids.
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